Reuben Jackson feels really blessed to get his first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“It’s a relief. Hopefully, it’s a step closer to us getting back to some normalcy,” Reuben says.
If you’ve been around Reuben, the rehabilitation supervisor of Good Samaritan Society – Fort Collins Village, you know there’s nothing to it.
Documenting the journey
Reuben is posting his entire COVID-19 vaccine journey on social media.
“This is a monster that we’ve been dealing with. It kind of consumed our whole 2020, the year 2020. Separated a lot of families. A lot of families lost loved ones,” Reuben says.
The way out, in his opinion, is to get the vaccine.
“I feel like I needed to do my part to get communities and my colleagues and my friends to at least consider taking the vaccine,” Reuben says.
A leader in rehabilitation
This inspiring leadership is nothing new. Whether it’s chipping in to help those less fortunate or developing individual rehab plans for Society residents and community members, Reuben is all in.
“He really does a good job and I appreciate all he’s done for me,” long-term care resident Richard Paul says.
Richard enjoys his time in the gym.
“Before, I had a lot of falls,” Richard says.
The 87-year-old is building strength with Reuben at his side. Richard says the hope is to “be a lot more steady on my feet and maybe eventually I won’t need the walker to walk around with."
Watch now: Hear more from Reuben on preventing falls
While safety protocols have changed during the pandemic, Reuben says the level of care hasn't.
“What we do to get seniors involved is just making it fun. We try not to make it like a chore,” Reuben says.
Making progress with a smile is more important. From long-term care residents to short stays, Reuben says the Society’s staff will get you where you want to be in a safe environment.
He loves what he does and says it's a rewarding job.
“It feels good. It means we’ve achieved our goals with them and that they’re also happy to be going home. There’s no place like home,” Reuben says.
Nothing to it
Whether that’s at Good Samaritan Society or in a nearby community, Reuben says everyone should protect themselves against the coronavirus.
"Nothing to it. Take the vaccine," Reuben says.
If you're looking for a place to heal or get stronger, the Society offers speech, occupational and physical therapy. Patients can access all three through home health, outpatient therapy and inpatient therapy.
Information in this article was accurate when it was posted. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, scientific understanding and guidelines may have changed since the original publication date. Read more about the COVID-19 vaccines.
The Good Samaritan Society requires masking in its locations. Anyone shown without a mask was either recorded prior to the masking requirement or recorded in a non-patient care area where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.